The psychological thriller series ‘You‘ on Netflix explores the murky depths of identity and obsession. Based on Caroline Kepnes’ novels, the series debuted on Lifetime in 2018 before gaining popularity on Netflix. The narrative centers on Joe Goldberg, portrayed by Penn Badgley, a seemingly charming bookstore manager whose intense obsessions lead him down a path of manipulation and violence.
Throughout its five-season run, ‘You‘ captivated audiences by exploring Joe’s complex psyche. His actions, often justified in his mind as “acts of love,” reveal a pattern of stalking and murder. In the final season, Joe’s journey comes full circle as he returns to New York City, seeking redemption but inevitably facing the consequences of his past actions.
The Ghostly ‘You’ Ending That Could’ve Been
According to ‘You‘ showrunners Michael Foley and Justin Lo, an earlier version of the series finale flirted with the idea that Joe Goldberg was already dead. Speaking to the New York Post, Lo spilled the tea: “We went through many different options, one of which being that he did die at the hands of Bronte,” referring to Madeline Brewer’s character.
Related: Joe Goldberg’s Last Words In ‘You’ Deliver A Brutal Reality Check
He continued, “I was even remembering a version where he was shot. And [the audience] didn’t realize that he got shot until the very last episode, and then he realizes he’s a ghost.” Can you imagine the shock? But instead of veering into supernatural territory, the showrunners decided to keep things grounded by giving Joe a brutal taste of reality.
Joe Goldberg’s Inevitable Justice
In the actual ending of ‘You‘ season 5, Joe finally gets what fans have been begging for: consequences. After seasons of slashing his way through Manhattanites and suburbanites alike, Joe ends up behind bars, where he is handed a letter from a fan. Joe asks whether it’s fair that he is in a cage while people like the fan who sent him mail get to roam free, asking if the problem is actually not him, but you.
He’s convicted of multiple murders, including those of Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti), Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail), Benji Ashby (Lou Taylor Pucci), and Peach Salinger (Shay Mitchell). And while prison seems like the obvious punishment, Foley and the creative team made sure it felt like a true reckoning for Joe.
In case you missed it: ‘You’ Series Ending Explained: Does Joe Goldberg’s Final Fate Serve Justice?
“We liked putting him in a veritable cage [in prison]. We liked him not knowing the touch of a lover,” Foley told the New York Post. “Throughout the series, there was a shared belief among the writers and the creators that Joe wouldn’t get away with his crimes,” he said. “We came into the season knowing that we didn’t want to redeem him… he was going to face some of those whose lives he ruined. And most importantly, we knew he was going to be made to face himself.“
Foley even told Netflix’s Tudum that killing Joe off would’ve been too easy: “I always thought somebody killing Joe wouldn’t be justice. It would be vengeance… What would justice for him look like? I think we get as close as we can.”
Penn Badgley Stands By Joe Goldberg’s Ending In ‘You’
Actor Penn Badgley, who portrays Joe, couldn’t agree more. In an interview with Deadline, he echoed the idea that true justice isn’t about killing Joe, it’s about making him feel the weight of his crimes.
“What is best, not just for Joe, but the person who then has to do it? If somebody was to kill him—and it would be a woman, right—well then, actually, now what you’ve burdened her with is having committed murder,” he explained. “Like, that’s not just, I don’t think… Prison? Eh, feels a bit not enough. So what do you do? Take. His. Balls.”
Sure, the ghost twist would’ve been legendary in a “what-the-hell-did-I-just-watch” kind of way but keeping Joe alive and making him truly face the mess he’s created hits harder. This wasn’t about satisfying bloodlust. It was about moral consequence.
